Evaluation of Iron Toxicity on Lowland Irrigated Rice in West Africa

Summary In tropical areas, lowland rice (Oryza sativa L.) cultivation (with or without irrigation) is often hampered by iron toxicity. This edaphic stress is common in West African savanna and forest lowlands. It is a nutrient disorder associated with high iron concentrations in the soil solution. The reducing conditions of waterlogged lowland soils boost iron toxicity through solubilization of almost all iron in its ferrous form (Fe 2+ ). This iron toxicity promoting edaphic features of lowland soils depends on the soil and climatic conditions, thus explaining the high spatiotemporal variability. The high quantity of ferrous ions in the soil solution upsets the mineral element balance in the rice and affects its growth. Ferrous iron (Fe 2+ ) is abundantly taken up by the plant and becomes concentrated in the leaves, causing limb discoloration, reduced tillering, stunted growth, while substantially reducing yields. A survey was conducted to quantify the effects of iron toxicity on rice in three countries (Guinea, Ivory Coast and Ghana) in the West African subregion. It was confirmed that iron toxicity is a major edaphic constraint in cultivated lowlands as it affects more than 50% of lowlands and about 60% of cultivated rice plots on average. About 10% of lowland crop fields were even abandoned due to high iron toxicity stress. Studies have also shown that more than 55% of rice-growing areas are affected by excess iron. There is also a significant impact on yield since affected plots were found to have a mean 54% lower yield as compared to healthy plots.